Fitting



Oct, 8, 1946. w, CQBU'ITNER FITTING Filed. Sept. 19, 1941 4 Shegts-Sheet1 INVENTOR. Zfiim 11! 220" W Arman/Ev 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. [172%W. C. BUZTNER FITTING Filed Sept. 19, 1941 u m DD 1 a A b i M Q m m 5 g.3 a w 3 v3.3 6 Z 3 M .w l "a A? 5 .d

W. C. BUTTNER FITTING Filed Sept. 19, 1941 4 Sneets-Sheet 3 mm mm d f v@ch 8, 1946. w. c. BUTTNER' FITTING Filed Sept. 19, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet4 Patented Oct. 8, 1946 FITTING William 0. Buttner, Winnetka, Ill.,assignor to The Bastian Blessing 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation ofIllinois Application September 19, 1941, Serial No. 411,484

Claims.

The present invention relates to fittings for handling liquefiedpetroleum gas stored and transported in pressure vessels, such as tanksor cylinders designed for that purpose.

The present invention is a continuation-inpart of application, SerialNo. 345,654, filed by William C. Buttner, July 15, 1940, for Valves forgas cylinders and the like, reference to which is hereby made.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved form of fitting or valve assembly which constitutes a unitarystructure that will contain a gas check valve, positive manual controlmeans for opening it, a pressure relief valve, means for connecting thecylinder to a regulator or the like, a closure for said means, and meansfor positively locking the manual control means against opening duringthe time that the cylinder or tank is in transit or in storage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fitting, as outlined,which is capable of use with a container having a threaded opening ofless than one and one-half inches.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fitting, as outlinedin the two preceding objects, that provides a pressure relief area of.015 square inch or more for a container used in the liquefied petroleumgas industry, a fuse metal port area of .0276 square inch or more withthe ability to prevent the filling of a twenty pound cylinder of propaneby conventional filling equipment in as little time as forty-fiveseconds.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fitting of the classdescribed which is simple in construction, easy and inexpensive tomanufacture, install and service and saves a great deal of time duringfilling operations.

These being among the objects of the present invention, other andfurther objects will become apparent from the drawings herein, thedescription relating thereto and the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings,

Fig. l is a side view of a device illustrating one form of the inventionas installed upon the container;

Fig. 2 is a plan detail View of the device shown in Fig. 1, formed uponan enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a section taken upon the line 2-2 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section taken upon the line 4--4 of Fig.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating another embodiment ofthe invention;

Fig. 6 is a section taken upon the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken upon the line l! of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 illustrates an improved manner by which a fitting, such as thoseshown in Fig. '7 or Fig. 3 may be mounted upon the container in a newand improved manner including a guard for the fitting, and

Fig. 9 is an illustration of a pair of tanks as they are disposed withrespect to each other to place the fittings conveniently for receiving aservice line.

Throughout the specification and drawings, like parts are indicated bylike characters and referring to the several figures in the drawings themetallic ga cylinder generally employed for storing and transportingliquefied petroleum gas is indicated by the numeral I. The bottom of thetank may be fashioned in any suitable manner with an opening la in thetop which may be closed in one of two days shown in Figs. 1 and 8 of thedrawings, respectively.

Referring to Fig. 1, the opening Ia is'permanently closed by a spud 2which may include a flange 3 adapted to be welded as at 3a, or otherwisesecured to the cylinder body. An integral boss 4 upon the spud 2 isprovided with a threaded opening 4a which constitutes the sole openinginto the tank. At its upper end, the opening 4a is enlarged as at 41) toprovide a shoulder 40 which receives a sealing gasket 4d.

A substantially cylindrical collar 5 in Figure 1, is formed integrallywith the spud 2 and extends to a height necessary for the protection ofa fitting 6 to be threaded into the threaded opening 4a which isdisposed in threaded connection with the spud at I. In this way, thefitting 6 and all its associated parts are well within the collar 5 sothat while they project outside of the body of the tank or cylinder,they are nevertheless entirely protected by the collar.

In order for the fittings and tanks to be used miscellaneously, theopening 4a is either 1%" or 1%", and one of the significant features ofthe invention is the great number of necessary parts required for theproper functioning of the device disclosed herein being so constructedand arranged as to fit into and be used with an opening of such a smallsize.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4, the fitting 6 comprises a valvebody 6a which is chambered as at 8 to communicate with a passage 9having a raised valve seat I9 at the upper end thereof and extendinginto the chamber 8.

A valve disk II is held on a valve stem [2, received through the opening9 by a disk retainer l3 and a disk guide 14 which is screw threaded ontheupper end. The disk is adapted t be held seated on the valve seat Iby a safety relief spring l which is received at the upper end in arecess |5a upon the bottom of the body 5a with the other end of thespring l5 resting against a nut l8 threaded on the lower end of the steml2 to adjust the tension upon the spring I 5 which is preserved by softsolder I9 when the pressure relief characteristics are established.

A guide stop I6 is threaded into the chamber 8 to limit the outwardmovement of the disk guide l4 when the valv opens, and a restriction 9aat the bottom of the passage 9 serves to guide the valve stem [2 at thelower end thereof so that between the guide 16 and the restriction 9athe stem [2 is held against tilting, The passage 9 in the embodimentillustrated in Fig. 4 for purposes of illustration has a diameter of.281" and is in communication with the interior of the tank through apassage I1 to provide the free flow of gas when desired, without anyinterference by the relief spring [5 or the valve stem [2.

The guide stop IS in order to vent the escaping gas upwardly is providedwith a series of escape apertures 20 with a weep'hole 20a at the side toprevent the collection of liquid in the opening 8.

Further pressure relief is provided in the embodiment illustrated inevent it is subjected to high heat by an aperture 2| approximately T g"in diameter being closed by a fusable metal plug 22.

A check valve chamber 23 is machined in the valve body 6a to communicatewith the int rior of the cylinder through an upwardly extendinginternally-threaded collar 24, for the chamber 23. the check valve, suchas a dill valve, to force the packing member of the check valve intotightly seated relationship to the tapered walls of the passage 21 thatextend to the chamber 23 to the interior of the cylinder. The checkvalve includes a valve member and a valve seat, not shown, controlled bya stem 28 which is subjected to spring tension urging the valve to itsclosed position.

The outer end of the chamber 23 is closed by a diaphragm 29 partiallysupported by a diaphragm protector 30 and a diaphragm protector spring3| which is disposed around and held in place by the collar 24. 4 a

For the purpose of actuating the valve stem 28 to open the valve atwill, a stem guide 32'is provided with a radially extending flange 32asupporting in guided relationship a stem or element-33 that rests uponthe upper face of the diaphragm 29. Th margins of the diaphragm 29 andthe flange 32a are held in sealed relationship by a diaphragm lock nutthreaded in the outer portion of the chamber 23 to force the shoulder32a outwardly to carry the marginal edges of the diaphragm'29 in sealedengagement with a shoulder 35. At its upper end the stem guide 32 iscurved to receive a valve lever 38 on a lever pin 31- for pivotalmovement, whereby an eccentric member 38 is brought into engagement withthe stem 33 to reciprocate same in a manner displacing the diaphragm 29and diaphragm protector 30 to open and close the valve controlled by thevalve stem 28.

Within the position shown in the full lines in The internal threadreceives the nut 25 of.

Figures 2 and 4, the diaphragm protector spring 3| holds the diaphragmin its raised position to leave the stem 28 of the check valve free toclose. When the lever 39 is in the dotted line position it moves theeccentric 38 to force the stem 33 inwardly to press the diaphragmprotector 30, whereby the end of the valve stem 28 is positively engagedand the check valve is forced open.

The compartment 23 below the diaphragm 29 is in communication with theoutside of the container through an interiorly threaded outlet passage39 by means of two inclined intersecting passages 40 and 4| drilled intothe body 6a through the outlet 39 and compartment 23, respectively,

The passage 39 receives a plug 42 that is adapted to seat on theintermarginal edges of a ring gasket 43 to close the passage 39 andprevent escape of gas from the chamber 23. A chain 44 is anchored at oneend around the neck of the plug in swivelled relationship and to thevalve body 60. at the other end on a chain screw 45 (Fig. 2). When thesealed plug 42 is threaded into place, the chain is so disposed andarranged to extend over the lever 35 to prevent it being moved to theposition which opens the valve which actuates the valve stem 28, thechain being only long enough to provide for easy manipulation of theplug 42 while serving in the capacity illustrated. Moreover, the chainand the screw 45 are so constructed and disposed with relationship tothe use of the plug 42 that the plug 42 cannot be threaded into placewithout the chain 44 being disposed in a position which necessarilypasses over the lever 36 as shown in Fig.2.

Thus, it is impossible for the plug 42 to be threaded into place withthe valve 28 held in open position by the lever-.35 without the operatorknowing or being required to close the valve by lever 38 to prevent theescape of gas. Once the valve 28 is permitted to close, the valve 36 ofnecessity, because of flatness upon the face of the eccentric, must ofnecessity be so located that when th plug 42 i threaded into place thechain 44 naturally and conveniently extends over the valve 36 to preventtampering therewith. Moreover, the plug 42 has to be removed before thelever 36 is moved to valve opening position, and when removed the plug42 has been removed under such circumstances that a connection will havebeen made either to the filling rack in the bulk service station or tothe usual regulator 41, shown in Fig. 9.

Referring now to Fig. '7, a further and preferred embodiment of theinvention is disclosed wherein in addition to the intersecting passages49 and. 4 l, providing increase of liquid to the container duringfilling operations, a dill valve 59 is provided in a threaded passagewaysimilar to the passage 5| which by-passes the passages 40 and 4| to opendirectly into the container as at 52.

Liquefied gas is forced into containers during filling operations underpressure, and this pressure is sufiicient to open the dill valve 50.

With this particular construction, the container can be filled inapproximately one-half the time required with the embodiment heretoforedescribed, if the valve 28 is opened by the lever 36.- In event,however, that the lever 38 is not moved to open the valve '28 as wherethe speed of filling is not the primary consideration in bulk plants,the tank can befilled exclusively through the opening 59, therebyallocating to the valve 28 the sole function of an eduction valve.

In Fig. 6, a construction is shown which can be used with either of theembodiments illustrated in Figs. 3 and 7 in which the safety valveemployed is a dill type valve rather than a safety valve H, or in lieuof substitution of valves, the safety valve shown in Fig. 6 could beused to supplement the safety valve H by locating it adjacent to thepassage 2| in the stock of the valve body shown to be sufficient forthis purpose in Figs. 4 and 2.

The safety valve 53 shown in Fig. 6 is disposed in the vertical passage54 threaded at opposite ends thereof, as at 55 and 55, the tapering seat57 of the valve being disposed inwardly of the threading 55 where thevalve packing 58 and the valve itself are held in place by a valve nut59. In this particular embodiment the stem fill of the valve movesoutwardly to open and is disposed inside of the tank where it cannot betampered with. Opposing the outward movement of the stem 59 is acompression spring 6! inserted through the threading 55 where it is heldunder an adjusted tension by an adjusting nut 62, the spring 6!augmenting the normal tendency of the valve 53 to close. Thus, a safetyvalve construction is provided which can be disposed within narrowdimensions in the stock of the valve body to augment other Valves ofdifferent or like construction.

A new and improved means for protecting the fitting is illustrated inFigs. 6 and 8, whereby the threading la may be of a lesser diameter dueto the compactness of the safety valve illustrated, and the valve body611 can be undercut as at 83 to hold a removable guard til in place ontop of a modified form of a spud 65 welded to the container as at 56.The guard walls may be as high as desired and constructed to be usedwith certain types of fitting which might not otherwise be protected ifthe fitting were used with the spud shown in Fig. 3. In this way, theconstruction of the tank is greatly simplified and the guard 64 can morereadily be fashioned and so formed as to conform with the requirementsof any particular fitting with which it is used. The guard otherwise maybe of any form desired, that shown in Fig. 8 being receptive, althoughnot required because of an intended looseness in the mounting of theguard 64 in case the guards are provided with drain holes, indicated atEl, to prevent the collection of liquid around the fitting.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

While the invention has other applications, in the particular form hereshown it is suitable for use in connection with tanks containingliquefied hydrocarbons. In one adaptation it is particularly useful forwhat are known as selfservice systems in which a relatively smallcontainer is used of a size small enough to be handied by the customerhimself without the use of a service man. It may, of course, be used inlarger tanks, or containers.

With the parts assembled as shown, if the tank has not been previouslyfilled, the plug 42 is removed and a suitable connection is made betweena source of gas or liquid and the chamber 39. When that connection hasbeen completed and opened the gas preferably in liquid form and underpressure flows through the passages 40 and 4-! and opens the valve 25against its inner spring which is not shown and flows into thecontainer, filling it to the desired point. The supply of gas is thencut off, the connection removed from the chamber 39, .the valve 25closes and the plug 42 is put in place. While the plug 52 may befastened in any way, it is preferable to fasten it by means of thechains shown. Thus it cannot be lost when it is removed and the chainsserve the additional purpose mentioned below.

When the full container has been taken to the point of use, it isconnected with a system leading to the place where the fuel is to beburned or the contents of the container otherwise used, and thisconnection is made through the chamber 39 after the removal of the plug42. Since pressure from within the container normally closes the valve25, it is necessary to open it before the contents can be discharged.Manual means to do this include the lever 36, and the cam or eccentric38, the follower 33 and the protector 38. Ordinarily when the containeris not in use and the plug 42 is in place as shown in Figures 1, 2 and3, the chain extends across the handle of the lever 36 and holds it downin the closed position. When a connection to a system where the fuel isto :be used has been made, the plug %2 has been removed and the chain 64is no longer over the handle 36. Therefore, the handle can be moved, forexample, from the full line position of Figures 2 and 4 to the dottedline positions of those figures. When that happens, the diaphragm andthe protector is are forced downwardly, the spring 3] is depressed, thevalve stem 28 is depressed and the valve 26 is opened. Fluid then mayflow from within the container through the chamber 23 and passages 49and 4| through the chamber 39 and thence outwardly to a conduit not hereshown, to a point of use. Ihe mechanism thus far described providesmeans for filling a container and means for discharging its contents,the means being manually controlled.

It is important to provide pressure relief or safety valve means in anassembly of the type indicated and also to provide means responsive toexcessive heat for pressure relief. While these might be inserted inseparate members, it is convenient to have them formed and positionedwithin the same member that carries the inlet and outlet valveassemblies which have just been described. As shown particularly inFigure 4, a bore 2! is provided with material having a low meltingpoint. When sufficient temperatures are encountered, this material meltsand the contents of the container are discharged. Similarly the pressurerelief or safety valve or valves as described are provided for theoccurrence of sufficient pressure within the container. The valve I l, Mis raised against the resistance of the spring i5 and fluid passesoutwardly through the bore i1, passage 9 and perforations 20 and 20a.Perforation 20a has an additional purpose. devices of this sortordinarily work in an upright position and are frequently not covered,liquid might collect about the pressure relief valve. Should that occur,it will pass out through the perforation 20a.

Since devices of this general type are subject to rough usage, it isimportant to provide protection for them. It is particularly importantto provide protection against lateral blows which might be struckagainst the valve assembly or valve parts. For this the collar 2 isprovided. It completely surrounds the valve assembly and extends out-Since wardly beyond them so that they are protected against blows fromthe side.

While the valve plug and assembly may be used in many associations, theyare. as above mentioned, of particular importance in connection withcontainers which contain liquefied hydrocarbons under relatively highpressures. One use of these containers is shown in Figure in which twocontainers I are shown supported in any suitable manner and connected toa system in which a connector 45 leads to one of the containers. Theconnector may be fastened to a pressure reducer or pressure regulator 41which is carried upon any suitable support and from which the gas ispiped to a point of use. The invention is not limited to the particularassociation shown nor to the particular relationship of connector andregulator. The regulator might be at the outer end of the connector ormight be elsewhere in the system or might be omitted. The connector isjoined ordinarily to one container. When the latter is empty or almostempty the connector is disconnected from it and joined to the othercontainer and a fresh full container is substituted for the emptied one.

What is claimed is:

1. A fitting for use in a liquefied petroleum gas dispensing systemcomprising a body, a socket therein adapted for removable connectionwith any suitable gas conduit, a chamber in the body, a connectionbetween the chamber and the socket, a check valve in the chamber adaptednormally to prevent flow of gas through the valve into the chamber whilepermitting flow of gas in the opposite direction, a flexible diaphragmand means including a member removably interlocking with the valve bodyfor holding the diaphragm in position to make a gas-tight closure forthe chamber, guide means projecting from the interlocking member, afloating element in the guide means, a manually operated lever pivotedon the guide means, an eccentric associated with the lever adapted toengage the floating element and, in one position of the lever, to

flex the diaphragm to cause it to open the valve 1 to permit flow of gasinto the chamber.

2. In combination, a housing, a chamber therein, a passage leading fromthe chamber, a check valve opening with the flow of liquid entering thechamber from the passage and normally obstructing flow in the oppositedirection, a flexible diaphragm associated with the valve and closingthe chamber, a member interlocking with the housing adapted to exertsealing pressure upon the diaphragm to make a gas-tight joint with thehousing, a relatively stiff diaphragm engaging member within the chamberand a spring adapted to yieldingly force the diaphragm engaging memberagainst the underside of the diaphragm, a guide member projecting fromthe interlocking element, a floating element guided thereby and engagingthe upper side of the diaphragm, a lever pivoted on the guide memberincluding a hand portion and an eccentric adapted to engage the end ofthe floating element whereby in one position of the lever the floatingelement will be displaced to compress the spring and positively open thevalve.

3. A valved plug for a container comprising a body having a passagewaytherethroughtapped at one end, a check valve in the passagewayobstructing eduction of gas from the container, means for opening thevalve at will including an elongated element movable from one to theother of twoalternative positions, a plug receivable in the tapped endfor closing the passageway, and flexible means interconnecting the bodyand plug and engaging said elongated element to prevent movement of saidelement from said one of said alternative positions when said plug isdisposed in the tapped end of the passageway.

4. A valved plug for a container comprising a body having a bifurcatedpassage therethrough opening upon the top of the plug at two spacedopenings, one of which 'is a discharge opening and the other of which isenlarged, a valve in said passage for controlling the flow of gastherethrough, a diaphragm in said enlarged opening, a. guide memberresting against the diaphragm, a lock member securing the diaphragm andguide member in assembled relation with the body, a manual controlelement pivotally mounted on the guide element, and an intermediatemember operated by the control element for flexing the diaphragm tocontrol the operation of the valve.

5. A fitting for use in a liquefied petroleum gas dispensing systemcomprising an integral body threaded at one end to be received in acontainer, a vertically opening socket in the body opening upon the faceof the body opposite to the thread ed end and adapted to receive aremovable gas conduit connection, a chamber in the body opening uponsaid face opposite to the threaded end at a point spaced from thesocket, a connection between the chamber and the socket, a self-closingcheck valve having a dimension less than that of the chamber openingdisposed in the chamber and accessible for removal through said chamberopening, said check valve closing with the flow of gas through the valveinto the chamber from the threaded side of the body, and manuallyoperated means mounted to seal said chamber and protect the check valveagainst tampering, said manually operated means being located in partoutside of the integral body for unseating the valve to permit flow ofgas through the valve into the chamber.

6. In combination, an integral valve body, a vertically opening sockettherein to receive in sealed relationship a removable gas conduitconnection, a gas tight chamber in the body, said socket and chamberbeing disposed in the body in side by side relationship, said bodyhaving an angular passageway interconnecting the chamber and socket, anormally closed check valve in the chamber closing in the direction offlow of gas through the valve into the chamber from one side of thebody, while permittin flow of gas in the opposite direction from theother side of the body, manually operated means including a, flexiblewall member mounted in and sealing said chamber from the outside, aportion of said manually operated mean being located in part outside ofthe valve body for manipulation to unseat the valve and permit outwarddispensing flow of gas through the valve during dispensing operationsand to release the valve to automatically check outflow of gas duringfilling operations, said body having a filler passageway bypassing thechamber to said other side of the body, and check valve means in thelast mentioned passageway accessible through said socket to close thefiller passageway and confine the flow of ga durin dispensing operationsto the control of the first valve.

7. A fittin for use in handling liquefied petroleum gas comprising aunitary body, a socket therein upon the side of the body which isexposed in use, said socket being adapted to receive in sealedrelationship a removable gas conduit connection, a chamber in the bodyspaced lat erally from the socket and opening upon said exposed side ofthe body, said body having an angular passageway therein interconnectingthe chamber and the socket, a normally closed valve in the chamberdisposed between the chamber and the inner side of the body preventingflow of gas through the valve into the chamber from said inner side,said valve opening with the flow of gas from the chamber to said innerside of the body, a flexible diaphragm received in the chamber, andmeans for holding the diaphragm in position to make a gas tight closurefor the chamber including manually operated means pivotally mounted inthe holding means for flexing the diaphragm and extending to a pointoutside of the body for manipulation, and a connection between thediaphragm and the valve whereby the diaphragm, when fixed, will unseatthe valve to permit flow of gas through the valve into the chamber, saidsocket being the sole inlet for the flow of said gas to said inner sideof the body.

8. A fittin for use in a liquefied petroleum gas dispensing systemcomprising a body, said body having a socket therein adapted to receivein sealed relationship a removable gas conduit connection for conductinggas to and through said body, a chamber in the body spaced laterallyfrom the socket and opening upon the same side as the socket, said bodyhaving an angular passageway interconnecting the chamber and socket, anormally closed valve in the chamber opening in the direction of flow ofsaid conducted gas through the valve and chamber and closing with theflow of gas in the opposite direction, said valve having a stemextending upwardly in the chamber, a flexible diaphragm, means forholding the diaphragm in position to make a gas tight closure for thechamber including a handle extending to a point outside the body forflexing the diaphragm and a wear resistant cap between the diaphragm andthe valve above the stem whereby the diaphragm, when flexed, will movethe cap against the stem and unseat the valve to permit flow of gasthrough the valve into the chamber.

9. For use with a container, the combination of unitary means forfilling the container and for dispensing material from the containerthrough a single opening, said unitary means including a tap, a passagethrough said tap, said passage terminating at said opening on the outerside of said tap and having a seat adapted to receive alternatively afilling and a discharging connection member, said passage terminating atand opening inside of the container and in a chamber leadin to the outerside of the tap, said openings having axes parallel and spaced from eachother, a self closing check valve assembled in place through saidchamber to be positioned in said passage adjacent its opening into thecontainer and opening automatically under the influence of materialforced into the container, said valve preventin discharge of fluid fromthe container through said passage, and removable manual means closingsaid chamber positioned partly outside of said tap for contacting saidvalve and adapted to be manipulated to open said valve, said valve beingaccessible from the outer side of the top when said manual means isremoved.

10. A fitting for use in a liquefied petroleum gas dispensing systemcomprising an integral body threaded at one end to be received in acontainer, a socket in the body opening upon the face of the bodyopposite to the threaded end and adapted to receive interchangeablefiller and gas dispensing conduit connections in sealed relationship, achamber in the body opening upon said face opposite to the threaded endat a point spaced from the socket, said body having a passagewayinterconnectin the chamber and socket, a valve in the chamber closing inthe direction of flow of gas from the threaded end of the body throughthe chamber, manually operated means for controlling the valve includinga member sealing the chamber from the outside and confirmingcommunication between said socket and chamber to said passageway, saidbody having a filler passageway by-passing the chamber to said otherside of the body, and a self-closing check valve means in thelast-mentioned passageway accessible through said socket and openingautomatically under the flow of gas from the socket to the threaded endof the body and closing to confine the flow of gas from the threaded endto the socket to the control of the first valve which is controlledmanually.

WILLIAM C. BUTT NER.

